Sir N Chandrasekaran! Tata Sons chairman conferred UK knighthood
What's the story
Tata Sons chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran has been awarded an honorary knighthood by the United Kingdom.
The UK government announced the prestigious honor earlier today.
He has been awarded "The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Civil Division) - honorary DBE/KBE".
Chandrasekaran was conferred the honor in recognition of his immense contribution to the business relations between India and the United Kingdom.
Gratitude expressed
Chandrasekaran expresses gratitude for prestigious recognition
Responding to the honor, Chandrasekaran said he was deeply humbled and grateful to His Majesty, King Charles.
He highlighted that the Tata Group takes pride in sustaining a strong strategic relationship with the UK across sectors.
These sectors include technology, consumer goods, hospitality, steel, chemicals, and automotive industries.
Business impact
Tata Group's significant presence in the UK
Chandrasekaran emphasized that Tata Group employs over 70,000 people in the UK.
He also spoke about their successful research and academic collaborations with top institutions like the University of Oxford, London School of Economics, University of Warwick, and University of Swansea.
Chandrasekaran said he was proud of iconic British brands like Jaguar Land Rover and Tetley being a part of their portfolio.
Future plans
Chandrasekaran looks forward to strengthening UK presence
Chandrasekaran also thanked the UK government for their support of the Tata Group.
He called their relationship strong and long-standing, and said he looked forward to further strengthening the group's presence in the UK.
This sentiment highlights Chandrasekaran's dedication to strengthening international business relations and expanding Tata Group's global footprint.
Leadership journey
A look at Chandrasekaran's leadership and achievements
Chandrasekaran, popularly known as Chandra, joined the Board of Tata Sons in October 2016 and took over the reins in 2017.
He was instrumental in Tata Group's revival after a leadership crisis and trust deficit after his predecessor, Cyrus Mistry's exit.
As the first non-Parsi to head the Tata Group, he took several steps to simplify themes, scales, and synergy in the group.
Past honors
Chandrasekaran's previous international recognition
Notably, in 2023, Chandrasekaran was also awarded France's highest civilian award, "Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur" (Knight of the Legion of Honour).
French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna presented the award to him for his work in strengthening commercial ties between India and France.
The recognition further highlights his global influence and dedication to promoting international business relations.